Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Meilleurs Voeux (Season's Greetings) - Lucien Hetu

It's December the 22nd... And you are longing to be up... North...? The date may be wrong, but the sentiment is the same -- everyone wants a Christmas Made in Canada! To round out my album shares this season, I present to you Meilleurs Voeux (Season's Greetings) (1963) featuring the rollicking organ sounds of Mr. Lucien Hetu, of Montreal, Quebec. Recorded on a Gulbransen Rialto K, Hetu guides us through an upbeat selection of familiar favourites (White Christmas, Skaters Waltz, Let It Snow, Sleigh Ride) with more regional fare like "Nel des pauvres" (translated as "Poor Christmas") and the jolly "Dans l'temps du jour de l'an (That Time of the Year)" - where electric guide and percussion join Hetu's organ.

I've never been big on Christmas organ albums, but this one has a lo-fi charm to it, and is loaded with Quebecois flavour -- just check out that front cover for a visual to go along with the tunes.
I'd like to thank everyone that's visited, sampled an album and told their friends about Hi-Fi Holiday. I'd like to extend a special thank you to those who also commented, shared their stories, thoughts and just said hello. Without those comments it would be a scary thing to do, to simply float these albums out into space without the benefit of knowing someone has made them a part of their Christmas celebrations. I wish you a Merry Christmas, and a safe and happy New Year. I'll see you right here next year!

Thank you Sir, a wonderful showing for Christmas this year! Being from 'The Great White North' myself, these posts brought a big smile to my face, and some wonderful, warm memories! This Quebecois offering has a special verve & delight all its own - thanks again!

I believe I still have a copy of this LP in my vinyl collection. It was one of my Dad`s favorite Christmas albums along with Bert Kaempfert`s Christmas Wonderland. Thanks for publishing the cover image - it brings back memories of Christmases Past in Quebec.

We played this record every Christmas season when I was growing up. My parents would put it on before we went to church and it would play and play and when we'd get back from church, we'd arrive home to this music.... sweet memories...Thank you!!!!!!!!!

Thanks a million, this brought back very nice memories indeed. I still have the vinyl to this day, although it's been played so much that my attempts to capture the audio via a USB Turntable have been less than satisfactory. To many scratches I guess... Thanks again!